Maigari: Flying Eagles will have Goodluck in Colombia

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, is confident the aura and name of President Goodluck Jonathan will work wonders for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.

Maigari, said the NFF had taken every measure neccessary and have not spared any resources to get the team prepared for the competition.,adding the Federation has confidence in the ability of the technical crew and the players.

The reigning African champions will today begin the journey to the South American nation with an 11-hour flight from Amsterdam’s world famous Schipol Airport to Panama City, for a Four-Nation Tournament that will constitute their final preparation for the big showpiece.

Runners-up at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup on two occasions in the past 22 years, the Flying Eagles have also been champions of Africa a record six times.

In 1989, a group coached by Olatunde Disu and captained by Bawa Abdullahi made a splash in Saudi Arabia, but lost 0-2 to Portugal in the final.

Six years ago, in Holland, Samson Siasia’s smart and skilful bunch also crumbled at the last fence, against Lionel Messi
and Argentina.

Obuh did his international reputation a world of good by leading the National Under 17 team, Golden Eaglets to a runners-up position at the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria, despite a good number of the group being axed at the last hour as a result of the new-fangled MRI test ordered by world football-governing body, FIFA.